Bauernschänke
Bauernschänke is a traditional Frankfurt pub on Berger Strasse that serves Apfelwein alongside conventional beers and straightforward pub food. It functions as the Bornheim equivalent of the Sachsenhausen cider taverns without quite reaching the same tourist recognition, which means the crowd is more local and the prices reflect that. The interior has the standard attributes of an old Frankfurt pub: wooden furniture, photographs of the neighborhood on the walls, and a bar that looks like it has been in the same position for several decades. The food menu covers the Frankfurt canon without innovation: Schnitzel, Handkäs, Bratwurst, and seasonal specials. Bauernschänke is not a destination bar; it's a neighborhood institution that happens to be on one of Frankfurt's more interesting residential streets.
Where to stay near Bauernschänke
Hotels close to Bornheim, Frankfurt.
What to Expect
A traditional Frankfurt pub with Apfelwein on the menu and no aspirations to be anything other than that. Reliable, unpretentious, and comfortable.
Old-school Frankfurt pub. The kind of place that has been serving the same drinks to the same neighborhood for decades.
No music. Pub conversation only.
Casual.
People who want Apfelwein in Bornheim without traveling to Sachsenhausen, and regulars who want a local pub that hasn't changed much.
Cash strongly preferred.
Price Range
Apfelwein 2.20 EUR per 0.3L, Pils 0.4L 4 EUR, Schnitzel 13 EUR, Handkäs 6.50 EUR, Bratwurst with bread 6 EUR
Apfelwein ~$2.40/~1.87 GBP per glass, Schnitzel ~$14.20/~11.07 GBP, Bratwurst ~$6.55/~5.10 GBP
Hours
Mon-Fri 16:00-24:00, Sat-Sun 12:00-24:00
Insider Tip
Bauernschänke is a good alternative for Apfelwein if the Sachsenhausen taverns are too crowded. The crowd is almost entirely local, which means the pace is slower and the service less harried. Saturday lunch before the market crowds arrive is the most relaxed time.
Full Review
Bauernschänke occupies a specific niche in Bornheim: it's the place to go for Apfelwein without crossing the Main. The Sachsenhausen taverns are the gold standard for cider culture in Frankfurt, but if you're already in Bornheim and don't want to move neighborhoods, Bauernschänke serves the same function with less tourist overhead.
The cider is sourced commercially from one of the Frankfurt regional producers, not house-pressed, which puts it in the same category as most Sachsenhausen establishments except Solzer and Adolf Wagner. The quality is consistent and properly served: cold, in a Geripptes, refilled without asking. The Bembel pitcher is available if you want to commit to a longer session.
Food at Bauernschänke is basic and honest. The kitchen makes no claims beyond competent execution of traditional Frankfurt dishes. Handkäs mit Musik is available and correctly made. Schnitzel is a reasonable portion at a fair price. Bratwurst comes from a local Frankfurt supplier.
The neighborhood regulars who use Bauernschänke as their Tuesday evening pub aren't particularly interested in visitors, but they're not hostile either. The standard Frankfurt pub sociability applies: if you sit at a communal table and say hello, conversation tends to follow.
The Neighborhood
On Berger Strasse in the northern section of the strip, close to Bornheim Mitte U-Bahn. The surrounding blocks are residential with a mix of independent shops and cafes. Yok Yok is nearby for post-dinner cocktails.
Getting There
U-Bahn U4 or U7 to Bornheim Mitte. Bauernschänke is within a 3-minute walk of the station exit. Coming from Sachsenhausen, tram 12 runs along Berger Strasse and stops nearby.
Address
Berger Str. 265, 60385 Frankfurt
Other Venues in Bornheim
Yok Yok
Cocktail bar on Berger Strasse with an inventive seasonal menu and a warm, low-lit interior. One of the more polished bars on the strip, drawing an after-dinner crowd most evenings.
Bornheimer Ratskeller
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Eulenburg
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Süden Bar
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Plank Bornheim
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Nachtleben
Mid-size club at the Konstablerwache end of the Bornheim axis with two floors and a program that rotates between hip-hop, electronic, and live band nights. One of the more enduring clubs in this part of Frankfurt.